Ricky Ponting 'the main figure' behind Ashok Dinda's IPL recruitment

Former India pacer Ashok Dinda has tasted success in the domestic arena but many don't know how the Bengal bowler first burst onto the scene in the India Premier League (IPL).

Dinda made his IPL debut in the inaugural match of the lucrative tournament for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. But it was Ricky Ponting who helped the pacer in fetching a contract.

Ponting revealed that Dinda's bouncers rattled the KKR batters in the net sessions and that is when he went up to the then head coach of the side, John Buchanan, and asked him to hand the fast bowler a contract.

"Ashoke Dinda was a net bowler for us at Kolkata, and for 7-10 days, he literally ran in and bowled bouncers at all of us for every session. And I ended up saying to John Buchanan that 'there is something about this guy, let's give him a contract.' And he ended up getting one," Delhi Capitals posted a video of Ponting's message.

While Brendon McCullum set the opening game on fire, scoring 158 runs off just 73 balls, Ashoke Dinda as well bowled a terrific spell, claiming the wickets of Wasim Jaffer and Virat Kohli in the match.

"I think he took maybe the first three wickets as well of the IPL, and that was the start of what ended up being the 12 or 13-year career for Ashoke Dinda in the IPL" Ponting added.

The 38-year-old has 69 IPL wickets in 78 matches and represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors and Rising Pune Supergiant in his career. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in February 2021.